Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

Drinking & Bi Polar Meds

I am new to this (please read my journal) I am wondering why someone on the Bi Polar meds is not suppose to drink? My fiance decided to have 3 beers one day this week. My concern is he tells me that the doctor said it would just flush his meds out..is that true?

I'm not sure about all that.. I just know I don't drink with my meds to avoid pukefest #80,000,000!!! :) But your husband probably knows his body... oh and I do put my liver through so much already with my meds, I am paranoid about what else I do put in my body.. I'm going to say hi to your journal now!! ;)

Since it's so important we maintain stability drinking while on BP meds is a real no no. Alcohol is a depressant and can really jepordize our well being. As an RN, the doctor who said the meds would be &quot;flushed out&quot; needs his head examining. Don't be mistaken I really don't like the fact that I can't drink especially when you are in a drinking group and they are merry while you are stone cold sober but my family mean too much to me that I won't risk even a glass of wine.

So him drinking could have caused him to sink into a low period? I really appreciate your advise on this as I am trying so hard to learn as much as I can in a short period of time so I can continue to help him.

I know that you should not drink..it does has bad side effects wit the meds...I drank a few times with mine, it goes like this...I plan on drinking today so I won't take the day time meds..so then I get myself plastered and can;t take night time pills or sleeping pills so I sleep only 3 hrs..then restart pills the next day.,...then I want to know why my moods are off for a few days....drinking will do that...A BIGG NONO

I'm not must of an drinker but I ask my Psy/Dr. if I could have a social mix drink on special occasions, which only amounts to one drink and he told me thats okay. I also drink a wine glass of wine every night to help with my cholesterol. I'm not saying it okay to drink alcohol beverages, but I would think that it would depend on your medications and antidepressants. I would call his Doctors office for advise.

Absolutely a big no no. Great amplifys teh effects of alcohol and you find yourself drunk when you didn't mean to. Also, alcohol can negate the postive effective of meds and can even back fire the meds so that you get worse instead of better. Then there is the extra damage to your liver. I ended up with an alcohol induced psychosis one night when drinking and medicating. Ended up in jail. Not worth it at all.

i drink.. i wouldn't suggest it cuz its kinda a really bad idea, but i'm kinda dumb sometimes, anyway i keep track of my moods and so i know for a fact that when i drink it throws my moods off real bad for a few days and it takes about a 2 weeks for me to get back to normal

it is because of the chemical interaction between alcohol and some of the meds we take. since alcohol is a mood altering substance it can interact with mood stabilizers and drugs used for anxiety and sleep.

that said, i slowly monitored myself and know how to drink with my meds. i don't drink close to the time i take them (i take them all at night in order to increase compliance). and i limit myself to two glasses of wine or shots or beers or whatever i'm drinking.

now THAT said, everyone is different and so mixing alcohol with any prescribed medication is usually a no-no because neither the doc nor the experts know how it's going to react with your personal body chemistry until you actually do it. and so they say no alcohol as a way of just limiting the risk of negative interactions

It depends on your meds and your body chemistry. I try to avoid more than 2 drinks a night as after a few hours I get sober with a nice headache. Better if I take an excedrin when I stop. I can drink more if I space it out say 1 drink and hour. The only problem is when I drink I get manic and can start drinking too much i.e. passing out. So my wife or freind might say , slow down. Mostly I only drink socially or maybe a beer on the weekend.
That said I am on Lamictal which is not hepa toxic like depakote or lithium so I don't worry as much about my liver. But again it depends on your meds, your brain, and your cognitive state so be cautious. And don't forget nicotine can also affect the chemicals in your brain.

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